Posted in partnership with the Heritage Initiative:

The annual fall festival in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin is coming up October 5th. This unique community festival seeks “to capture our unique sense of place, awaken the creative potential of the St. Croix Valley and explore self-sufficient and sustainable models of community development.”

In addition to a bike race, art fair, kids’ games, and music, this year’s AutumnFest will include several activities intended to celebrate the river town’s history and culture. The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is organizing the following events:

St. Croix: River of Dreams Community Art Mural
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Overlook Deck
The public is invited to use their own creativity and imagination in creating a piece of artwork celebrating the life, beauty, and movement of the St. Croix River. Paint and other materials are provided!

Traditional Native American Dance Performance by St. Croix TRAILS (Traditions Respecting American Indian Life Styles) Youth
1:00 to 1:45 p.m. at the Overlook Deck
The youth of the St. Croix Chippewa Tribe have shared their tradition of dance across the region and as far away as Japan. Join them in a celebration of their history and culture during this performance.

Woodland Flute Performance by Frank Montano
2:00 to 2:45 p.m. at the St. Croix River Visitor Center
Frank “Anakwad” Montano is a respected Ojibwe elder, master flute maker, and recording artist from Red Cliff, Wisconsin. Montano will speak about the history of the Woodland flute and perform some of the traditional music of this instrument.

Poetry Reading by John Bates and Mary Burns
3:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the St. Croix River Visitor Center
John Bates, a naturalist, writer and poet, and his wife Mary, a poet and weaver, live on the Manitowish River in northern Wisconsin, and will share their deep connection to the Northwoods environment in verse.

“Legacies and Paradise Lost? Climate Change in the Northwoods and Beyond”
Closing Reception
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the St. Croix River Visitor Center
This is the final opportunity to see this exhibit which shares artists’ renditions of the effects of climate change in the Northwoods with repeat photographic imagery of climate change impacts in America’s National Parks.

A full schedule of AutumnFest events is available on the Falls Chamber of Commerce website.

The Overlook Deck is located near the intersection of Washington and Louisiana Streets in downtown St. Croix Falls. The St. Croix River Visitor Center is located at 401 North Hamilton Street and is a short walk along the Gaylord Nelson Riverwalk from the Overlook Deck.

All events and programs are free and open to the public. Call (715) 483-2274 for additional information.

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